Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)
Spangled emperor
Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL
Classification
Actinopterygii | Perciformes | Lethrinidae | Lethrininae
Synonyms
Sciaena nebulosa, Lethrinus alboguttatus, Lethrinus anatarius,
Common names
Empereur moris, Emperador relámpago, Emperor fish,
Main reference
Carpenter, K.E. and G.R. Allen. 1989. (Ref. 2295)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators
Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 87.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 47613); common length : 70.0
cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450); max. published weight: 8,400 g (Ref. 40637);
max. reported age: 27 years (Ref. 2290)
Length at first maturity
Lm 43.1, range 28 - ? cm
Environment
Reef-associated; non-migratory; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 75 m
(Ref. 2295)
Climate / Range
Tropical; 36°N - 32°S
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa to southern Japan
and Samoa. According to a genetic study (Ref. 28017), Lethrinus nebulosus
and Lethrinus choerorynchus are two distinct species in Western Australia.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 9; Anal spines:
3; Anal soft rays: 8. Cheek without scales; 5-9 scales in supra temporal
patch; inner surface of pectoral fin densely covered with scales; posterior
angle of opercular fully scaled. Body color is yellowish or bronze, lighter
below. Centers of many scales with a white or light blue spot. Sometimes
irregular dark indistinct bars on sides and a square black blotch above
pectoral fin bordering below the lateral line. Three blue streaks or series
of blue spots radiate forward and ventrally from the eye. The fins are
whitish or yellowish; the pelvic dusky, the edge of the dorsal fin is reddish.
TL/SL relationship (cm): TL = 1.70 +1.24. Juveniles variable with blotches
or stripe and changes with habitat (Ref. 48635).
Biology
Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)
Inhabit coral reefs, coralline lagoons, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps and
coastal sand and rock areas. Adults solitary or in small schools; juveniles
form large schools in shallow, sheltered sandy areas, also harbors where in
seagrasses, algae or sponge habitats at various depths. Feed on echinoderms,
mollusks and crustaceans, and to some extent on polychaetes and fish. A protogynous
hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). May have a coppery or iodine taste or smell in
the Indian Ocean (Ref. 2295, 11888). It has been shown that this species can
survive for long periods in salinities as low as 10 parts per thousand and
therefore it is a potential estuarine aquaculture species (Ref. 2295). Utilized
as a food fish.
